Mercedes-AMG Customers Want ICE and the V8 – CEO Promises to Deliver

It looks like the V8 engine still has some life left in it, at least at Mercedes-AMG. The German performance brand has confirmed it’s working on a new-generation V8 setup as part of a major product refresh expected to kick off in 2026.

Image: Mercedes-AMG

 

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The news came out of a recent investor meeting, which also revealed that a smaller version of the G-Class is on the way. Mercedes-AMG reportedly wants to “outgrow the performance market” with a bold new lineup—and that includes a powertrain the company describes as a “next-generation, high-tech electrified V8.” That phrase might be vague because it doesn’t confirm if there will be a ground-up redesign or if the current unit will be more heavily hybridized, but either way, the V8 looks set to stay with the German automaker for some time to come.

Related: Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 Seems Set for V8 Return

AMG CEO Michael Schiebe offered a bit more insight. While electrification is certainly part of the plan, it might not be as heavy-handed as some expect. In his words, AMG doesn’t “necessarily need to go that far on hybridisation.” He pointed out that many track-focused customers still favour the pure combustion GT63 Pro over the plug-in hybrid GT63 S E-Performance, even if the latter packs more power. That suggests AMG may prioritise driving feel over electrified bragging rights. The electrification strategy itself remains unclear.

Mercedes-AMG

Mercedes could stick with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system—a setup already found in many of its models—or take a bolder approach with a larger battery and plug-in capabilities. Either way, this new V8 is being developed for use on the AMG.EA platform, which will also support high-performance EVs. That hints at a mixed future where combustion and electric performance models sit side by side.

It’s a significant shift, especially after Mercedes announced in recent years that it would phase out V8s in favour of hybridised four-cylinder units in some markets. But growing customer pushback and a clear demand for emotional, performance-focused driving seem to have made the brand reconsider.

That said, this won’t mean a total revival of big engines across the board. The 6.0-litre V12 will still be built, but only for select markets where emissions laws allow it. For Europe, the new V8 appears to be Mercedes’ answer to stricter environmental regulations without giving up what makes an AMG feel special.

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The post Mercedes-AMG Customers Want ICE and the V8 – CEO Promises to Deliver appeared first on CAR Magazine.


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